FIRST PLACE: At Princeton Council’s meeting on Monday night, Studio Hillier was awarded First Place in the Professional Design category by a jury in the Princeton Municipal Kiosk Design Competition, presented by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New Jersey in partnership with the Municipality of Princeton. The competition invited designers in several categories to create a new public kiosk for downtown Princeton. From left are Jessica O’Donnell, AIA NJ president; Bob Hillier and Kayleen Gowers of Studio Hillier; and architect Joshua Zinder, AIA Central New Jersey trustee.
By Anne Levin
At its meeting Monday night, March 9, Princeton Council adopted an ordinance completing the final requirement needed to make Princeton a certified, film-ready town, as well as the last six ordinances needed to fulfill the municipality’s Fourth Round affordable housing obligation.
Also on the agenda were a presentation of winners in the competition for re-design of the kiosk at Nassau Street and Vandeventer Avenue; a report from Experience Princeton Executive Director Robin Lapidus; presentations related to Palmer Square’s schedule of activities and the proposed Princeton Triathalon 2026; and a work session regarding streetscape enhancements in the central business district.
Among the housing projects Council voted to approve were 100 percent affordable projects: the former firehouses at 13 Chestnut Street and 27 North Harrison Street, and the lot at 303 John Street that currently houses a trailer for Department of Public Works staff. The firehouse on Chestnut Street will remain with minimal changes and its community room intact. New construction will be behind the existing building.
“This is a really exciting example of adaptive reuse,” said Councilwoman Mia Sacks. Councilman David Cohen also praised the project because it is “deferential to the existing streetscape.”
Council’s approval of an ordinance amending the overlay district in the Jugtown neighborhood, involving five parcels of historical value at Harrison and Nassau Streets, was praised by Councilman Leighton Newlin, who is liaison to the town’s Historic Preservation Commission. “This application was hotly contested,” he said. “They came together and compromised.”
Historian and author Clifford Zink congratulated Council on the amendment. “The public has no idea how much work you all put into this,” he said. “The original ordinance didn’t address the fact that these five properties are in the historic district. You made some very careful adjustments. I appreciate everybody’s willingness to listen and find a way to come up with a better outcome.”
The ordinance Council passed related to filming in town modernizes regulations to align with the Film Ready New Jersey program, “establishing a clear, consistent process for permitting and helping minimize disruptions for residents while supporting production activity in the community,” reads a press release issued by the municipality on Tuesday. “Princeton has long been a sought-after filming location because of its rich history, distinctive architecture, collegiate atmosphere and abundant green spaces,” said Council President Michelle Pirone Lambros. “Productions such as Oppenheimer and IQ have already recognized Princeton’s unique character, and pursuing Film Ready certification aligns our community with New Jersey’s broader efforts to support the creative economy while ensuring that filming benefits our residents and local businesses.”
As part of the Film Ready certification process, municipalities must complete a workshop, designate a film liaison, adopt a formal permit process, add potential filming locations to the state’s production database, and submit a list of local resources to help connect production companies with essential services. Princeton has already completed several of these requirements, including attending the Film Ready New Jersey workshop, designating Municipal Administrator Bernie Hvozdovic as Princeton’s film liaison. and adding filming locations to the state database. The final step — compiling a list of local resources — is underway in collaboration with Experience Princeton.
With the ordinance now adopted, Princeton will submit its application to the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission for consideration as a Film Ready municipality, making it easier for location scouts and productions to coordinate filming locally. The updated ordinance takes effect immediately, and filming inquiries will continue to be coordinated through the Municipal Clerk’s Office.
Council will hold a special meeting on Thursday, March 12 at 10 a.m. focused on goal-setting for 2026, at the Cullen building of Westminster Choir College, 101 Walnut Lane. Visit princetonnj.gov for more information.